Hi All,

 

I have often wondered (when Rosie comes up) if speaking with a fellow
lesbian who is an IBCLC, a Dr who supports BF or another lesbian BF mom and
her supportive partner would help her turn around and become an advocate of
healthy mothering and supportive partnering rather than a ‘shock jock’ type
spouting rude jokes and comments about BF.  It bothers me deeply on many
levels that an out celebrity member of the Lesbian community would do women
(in general, lesbians specifically) such a disservice as she has done.  I
wonder if she remembers how difficult it can be for lesbians to become
pregnant – that we have to work very hard to get pregnant with our babies –
that many go through infertility treatment hell to do so.  So if we work so
hard to have this baby why wouldn’t we (mother and partner) do everything in
our power to support breastfeeding for as long as possible?  Why would she
support her partner to go through that and then not ‘allow’ her to BF?  I
don’t get it.  

 

I have worked with many lesbian couples in my community – the vast majority
of them desperately want to BF – they made a choice to have that baby – they
make a choice to give that baby what nature has provided.  Sometimes it is a
challenge – sometimes not.  I have yet to meet a partner who was not
supportive…  And, while I am not so naïve to believe that just because
lesbian couples work so hard to have babies that they will always BF, I do
find, at least in my area and the community I work with, that they are less
accepting of feeding ABM…interesting really.  Their comments tend to be “We
worked too hard to have this baby and we prepped so well (for pregnancy – to
be as healthy as possible) that we aren’t going to put formula into them –
that would be defeating the purpose of having the healthiest baby we can
have.”

 

None of us knows for sure what happened between Rosie and her partner.  I
have heard a couple of different stories.  So who really knows?  Maybe the
partner wanted to quit – maybe she didn’t.  Maybe Rosie forced the issue –
maybe she didn’t.  With Rosie out there talking about how she made her wife
stop and making the inappropriate comments (imo)…well…kinda hard to give her
the benefit of the doubt.  But I’d like to try.  Heck I’d like to try and
give anyone the benefit of the doubt – and give them a chance to really take
a look at what they are doing and to re-educate themselves…

 

I don’t know…really just very sad that the View is out there again doing
such harm to women and babies – showing their ignorance and making
themselves look really quite unprofessional, discriminatory, judgmental
against other women. Promoting the use of inferior feeding methods and –
well, in my opinion they look – appallingly sad.  I doubt they truly
understand the nature of the harm they are causing and the nature of the
judgment they are fostering as those who ‘love’ them will run with the
judgmental attitude rather than educate themselves and recognize that
breastmilk and breastfeeding are a child’s right – and a child’s need.
There is more to it than simply attaching a baby to the breast…a lot more.
But then I am preaching to the choir now, aren’t I?  

 

 

Just my ramblings tonight…sad that these things are still happening…

 

Jaye Simpson, IBCLC, CIIM, MOM

Breastfeeding Network

www.breastfeedingnetwork.net

 

 

 

 

 


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